Letter: What happened to the English I knew?

In 1819, the American author Washington Irving wrote a short story about a man who drank magic liquor and fell asleep. Indeed, Rip Van Winkle slept for 20 years!

I don't think I imbibed any potion, but I don't remember when the words or phrases that I grew up with changed to what's used today, some of which are not even in the newest dictionaries.

"Listen" is "listen up." A sweatshirt is a "hoodie." "My fault" is "my bad." "In the old days" is "back in the day." The "start" is the "get-go." "You can count on me" is "I've got your back." "I'll do it" is "I'm all over it."

Maybe this all happened when I was napping, and a leprechaun, with arms defiantly akimbo, wriggled his nose and the dastardly deed was done.

Language-wise, I'm a child of my time and most of the new vocabulary seems flippant, even shallow. Ergo, I've not used any of the above in talking, and the thought of doing so doesn't warm the cockles of my heart.

HOWARD WEISS

ROCHESTER

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Letter: What happened to the English I knew?

In 1819, the American author Washington Irving wrote a short story about a man who drank magic liquor and fell asleep.